England in Dubai vs Pakistan...Cricket.
Discussion
DJRC said:
To be fair the England team have had a relatively long layoff and this is the first match on tour. A rusty start, but a winning one. Far removed from England tours of old when the first match would frequently be lost!
Don't get me wrong - I wasn't laying into them, I think the bowlers are back to business, although I have no idea of the quality of batting they were firing at, I still have a nagging concern about Englands batting against spin on low dry pitches, but I guess we will see what happens. Given it is Dubai the pitches will probably be green tops cos dey is well bling innit.
mantis84 said:
Can't decide whether we should play 2 spinners or not. Question is, who do you drop to fit Panesar in? I can't see us not sticking with a 4 bowlers to be honest, so at the moment I'm leaning towards dropping Tremlett if there's no bounce or pace (which there isn't on the wicket we're playing on today apparently) and playing Jimmy, Broad, Swann and Monty.
As an aside, I stood next to Tremlett last summer as I was waiting to cross the road - he looks like a big chap on TV but I was genuinely surprised how gigantic he really is in person. Huge!
Or Morgan ? five bats, Prior at 6, Broad 7 - could be an option As an aside, I stood next to Tremlett last summer as I was waiting to cross the road - he looks like a big chap on TV but I was genuinely surprised how gigantic he really is in person. Huge!
Yay we won !
Is this performance consistent with our test performance. I really hope not. Bell, Pieterson and Morgan no doubt all have another gear still to find. Bowling looks ok though.
I suppose a lot depends on what the bookies want, but hopefully England are now reasonably focussed on the task in hand
Is this performance consistent with our test performance. I really hope not. Bell, Pieterson and Morgan no doubt all have another gear still to find. Bowling looks ok though.
I suppose a lot depends on what the bookies want, but hopefully England are now reasonably focussed on the task in hand
DJRC said:
And that ladies and gentlemen is why we did not go with 2 spinners and the longer batting lineup. 
Which at this point looks like genius, but (if we get to) the fourth innings when England need regular wickets on a pitch taking spin... All Ifs and Salman's at this moment. Agree though, a 50 from Morgan here will be priceless...(which is the kiss of death, infact he is probably already walking back to the pavillion as I am typing this)
Much from England & Wales so far, impressive bowling I would say, don't think Pakistan will be too happy with the first innings total.
Will we beable to post a monster first innings ? too early to say. Cook and Trott look fine now, but Bell, Pietersen and Morgan have the air of fragility again all too familar for Englands middle order.
Fingers crossed.
Hmm - whilst he may have been out, in a surprising way, he did the job for us today - good score, saved us from a middle order panic, got us into the game.
Don't think Plank is the right term, anyway Trott doesn't make too many centuries just loads of 50+ scores. Love to see his conversion rate from 50 to 100.
Cook is looking like a man who doesn't want to lose next years sports personality award......;)
Don't think Plank is the right term, anyway Trott doesn't make too many centuries just loads of 50+ scores. Love to see his conversion rate from 50 to 100.
Cook is looking like a man who doesn't want to lose next years sports personality award......;)
tommy vercetti said:
Good play from England today, especially Cook and Trott, could have had ended better,Pietersen defo needs his form back asap if he is to remain in this team anyy further. Hopefully we will take a couple of early wickets tomorrow.
Pietersen is still averaging 49 - Morgans position is more shaky I'd suggest Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff